Let a New Taiwan into the UN

Draft letter to Mr. Kofi Annan

Dear Secretary General Annan:

I wish to request your support for an issue that is close to the heart of many people around the world. This is the matter of U. N. membership for Taiwan.

The twenty-three million people of Taiwan currently have no voice in the U.N. They strongly desire to be represented in this world organization. As a country, Taiwan has a defined territory, a peace-loving population and an effective government. According to Article 4, Chapter II of the U.N. Charter, admission of Taiwan to membership of U.N. should be most worthy of consideration by the General Assembly and the Security Council.

Yet Taiwan's international status presently still hangs in limbo. The people of Taiwan want their country to be a free, democratic and independent nation, just like all other nations in Asia and Africa which gained their independence after World War II under the auspices of the newly-formed United Nations. However, until now we have been denied full membership in the international community, and we were subjected to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek's martial law, which lasted from 1948 through 1987, the longest martial law in modern history.

But over the past ten years the Taiwanese people have achieved democracy, and there is no doubt that, once admitted, Taiwan is able and willing to carry out the obligations stipulated in the U.N. Charter. In fact, as a free and prosperous country, Taiwan has much to contribute to the peace and security of the Western Pacific.

Secretary General Annan, I strongly urge you to expedite the inclusion of Taiwan in The U.N. as a full and equal member. Thank you for your assistance.

Sincerely yours,

Name(printed):________

address:________